Messina Prosecutor Appoints Team to Investigate Pistunina Building Collapse

On August 5, the office of the Messina public prosecutor, led by Antonio D’Amato, assigned a panel of engineers—Andrea Prota, Antimo Fiorillo and Rodolfo Urbani—to conduct structural analyses of the collapsed building in Pistunina, a district of Messina.

The same day, substitute prosecutors Anita Siliotti and Antonietta Arizzone also appointed medical examiners to perform autopsies on the victims, identified as Carmelo Leone, Sara and Rosa Leone, and Alessandra Frazzica. The investigation proceeds under charges of multiple culpable homicide, aggravated disaster and possible violations of workplace‑safety regulations.

The inquiry includes testimony from local builder Pasquale D’Alì, who was overseeing ground‑floor renovations for a supermarket linked to entrepreneur Alessandro Panarello and was injured in the collapse. Authorities also noted prior reports of vibrations from a Chinese bazaar chain operating in the building.